16 inches of "Why did I buy this?"
 

Somewhere at the intersection of boredom and stupidity, I bought this unknown 16" kids bike at a yard sale down the block - it's complete, but I already tore it down a bit by the time I snapped these photos.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c393c24130.jpg

I'm not sure what was calling me to it, other than an acute lack of reason at that moment, and the GT logos - obviously plastered there many years ago; this thing is yellow under a fairly durable blue repaint - gave it a certain charm. Also, I have an idea for a video at work that involves a scene set in the 1970's, and the "80" date on the coasterbrake and in the frame SN was good enough for me.

Apparently, I can't get enough of bikes in need in massive frame straightening. The wide angle lens above hides it, but this shot is pretty clear about how bent the headtube was in relation to the seattube:

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...4f9f9a988c.jpg

Hallo there, kinked downtube.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...79600af5a8.jpg

Oh yea, the rear triangle is massively out of whack too. Between this, the kinked headtube, and the bent pedal shaft, I dare say Young John McClane must have ghost ridden this thing a few times off of Nakatomi Tower.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c3a23e9dc1.jpg

-Kurt

After about an hour of subjecting this thing to the Park fork straightener (and a solid propeller shaft through the headtube), it appears to be back in alignment. The headtube was also kinked to the right.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...845e0e5ba4.jpg

The dent under the downtube will never fully come out, but no matter.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c34c06cf2c.jpg

It came with a tiny 16" chrome front fender - any chance anyone has a rear kiddie 16" chrome fender kicking about? A matching pair would be even better.

-Kurt

I love it! But I have kids with kid bikes...

i rode a bmx bike for a while after mom failed to shift to P in the carport. it was bent a bit worse than that. interesting riding, for sure

that's a really neat bike, though. i'd ride it down the trails with some downhill armor :)

I've used ice to push dents in tubes out; you wait for a cold night, put the dent at the bottom (helps if it's in a curve), and pour enough water in so when it freezes from the ends inward the centre will expand and push the dent out.

This was motor-bike exhaust pipe, and it is a bit risky, if you put too much water in you split the tube. Out of six one split but that was ok I only needed four. The dents were all in good places too.

The 'Team Edition' is really rare - good save. :thumb:
Glad to see old iron preserved! :rolleyes:

Can't wait to see the final build. :)

Soooo...it looks great..

I'm part of a program that's involved with kids bicycle advocacy, so digging up interesting kids' bikes has become something of interest within the last few years. Wouldn't put this in our fleet of bikes though; it's most definitely an overworked prop POS than an actual bike.

An interesting idea, but I'll be darned if I'm going to put that level of effort into this thing. An hour of frame straightening was enough for me!

Yea, I hear they were extremely limited production :roflmao:

Seriously, I want to see if I can find a Sears sticker to throw on this thing as a headbadge. And if not that...Masi decals :lol:

-Kurt

I've been finding myself with some odd projects in the shop during the pandemic myself. Seems like lots of people are tossing rando stuff out lately, lots of spring cleaning. On the rare occasion I get out in a vehicle, it's not uncommon for me to drag stuff home, tune and repack things, then donate out or sell for what I've got in it. It's been fun, I've worked on some "unusual" (for me) stuff, but it's taken away from other projects I really, really need to finish. Side perk, I've found I do actually enjoy riding bikes built after 1990, apparently. Who knew?

Needs more flaming skulls, bro

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...03dfd9e1f0.jpg

Nah. Needs an orange paint job and "WINDSOR" on the headtube.

-Kurt

Need spouse and young child to go with.

Its a convertible, remove the top tube for the girls.

Wrong color you say? there is a reason that for a long while kids british bikes were red for boys and blue for girls.
The school uniforms for girls were Blue, the Boys got Red.

The Blue, the blue, the bonnie blue, the blue that should be worn, the red the red the dirty red, the red that should be torn.
From my Scottish grandma, would would be 105 or there abouts today.

"Fork's bent."

I think maybe some letters are missing from that crossbar sticker? Originally read "Team GTFOH?"

Gotta love any frame that uses the seatpost bolt to help attach/anchor the seatstays. Also love the creased fork blades.

Did it come with the chainguard? If not, gotta track that down.

And now that I've slaked my snark, it makes me smile so much to think how much joy it might have brought some little kid. Maybe their first wings, first taste of freedom, first boundary-pushing.

Can't wait to see the picture of the builder riding the bike.

Not 100% sure, but there's a possibility the fork is bent, given that it was slammed hard in the front. I haven't verified it though. Given how easily the frame cold sets, it's a lot more likely that only the headtube bent.

No chainguard, only the front fender which wasn't mounted. It was the ONE thing that made me question buying the bike!

I might get on it once, but I'm actually really concerned I'm too heavy for the U-shaped frame. I've worked it enough cold-setting to be quite wary of it. I've ridden a smaller bike with 12" wheels - see 0:40 in this video and the blooper reel at the end:


-Kurt

There are corollaries:
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e0e480292.jpeg

Sorry, that should have been in quotes for proper usage: "Fork's bent." Will go back and fix it...

Oh, I knew it was tongue-in-cheek :)

-Kurt

From the damage listed, my first thought was it was used in one of those” who can toss this the furthest” contest.

My respect for you just went up ten points.

I figured you knew, but being there's a thread floating around about in-group terminology/jokes, I figured I should model proper usage. Pinky out!

Not out of the question. Because kids bike. Then again, there are some adults...

Keep watching. The Chuck Barris impersonation should lower it right back to zero.

Orthodoxy!

-Kurt

Tinkered with it last night. I still don't trust that headtube angle, but if I'm going to have any hope of fixing it, I'll have to brace the frame in the Park stand to prevent bending the downtube (again) whilst doing so.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...aa11dfa42a.jpg

Also gave the fork more attention than anyone has ever given a low-end kid's bike fork:

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1f3885658d.jpg

The rest of the bits (not including the 250W scooter front wheel). Drop center rims!

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1936f8f597.jpg

"Predom." No comment. Also the only brand name stamped anywhere on the entire bike.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9957826832.jpg

-Kurt

This, and being over friendly with the other long time members dang near ended the 50-Plus Forum a while ago. I believe Tom's Stickie about it is still there, but the instigator was banned (Karma will get your every time:innocent:.)

Bill

Kurt, is it a down tube--- a seat tube--- or possibly a do-eat tube? :p

It's going down the tubes!

-Kurt